Car-coupling



( o ModeL WARD.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

wd I i I'I'N ES ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSS FORWARD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CAR-"COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 448,515, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed October 6,1890.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Ross FORWARD, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved automatic car-coupling; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a top view; and Fig. 4, a horizontal cross-section on line 00 a, Fig. 2.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic car-couplings, and its object is to provide a simple, convenient, and economical device designed to obviate the acknowledged defects which limit the usefulness and impair the efliciency of the various appliances generally employed for that important service.

The peculiar features of my invention consist in providing adequate means whereby cars may be coupled automatically without exposing the lives and limbs of operatives to constant danger.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates the draw -head, which is attached to the car in the usual manner, and has a c entral longitudinal slot a in its upper side. A latch B, suitably pivoted at b, plays vertically in the slot, and when closed engages the link 0 by the point I) passing through the link and that portion in the rear of the point and in the recess behind, the same being flattened horizontally so as to rest evenly with its entire weight upon the link. The link is flattened, as shown, and its ends are extended and form plates, which, when interposed between the floor of the inner recess in the drawhead and the body of the latch above and parallel therewith, is held by the superior weight of the latch in a horizontal position, so that the free end of the link is always presented in the proper posture for the coupling process, even with cars which vary in height. The width of the link is a little less than that of the recess in the draw-head, so that while free to move in and out it cannot swing to either side to an extent which would interfere with coupling. The latch is held in its normal position by gravity and when cars are in motion yields to the varying pressure of the link, which is thus allowed sufficient vertical play. The extreme point of the latch when closed extends through the Serial No. 367,243. (No model.)

slot in the link and into a recess D in the floor of the draw-head, so that the link, which rests behind it 011 the floor of its recess, cannot escape, even at intervals whenthe latch is partially raised by ordinary variations in the vertical position of the cars. Further provision is made for keeping the latch closed by locating the center of the pivot slightly below the line of bearing on the link. A constant downward tendency is thus established, whlch tends to keep the latch engaged. The longitudinal play of the link is limited by studs (1, which project from the floor of the draw-head and stop the ends of the link in the position required to enable them to engage the respective latches with certainty when cars are brought together.

Uncoupling is effected by a pin E in the upper part of the latch, which engages the fingers of a'jointed arm 0, extending trom a shaft F, journaled on the end of the car and having a crank-lever f.

It will be observed that when the arm 1s at rest the fingers are not in contact w1th the pin E, and the latch is not liable to be raised by an accidental downward movement of thedraw-head when the cars are running; also that any horizontal variation of draw-head or latch is accommodated by the joint in the arm or lever.

What I claim as new is- 1. In an automatic car-coupling, the pivot-ed latch having the beak b at its lower forward end, a horizontal fiat surface extending a short distance inward from sa1d beak,

and an upwardly-curved cavity or recess standing inward from and above said fiat horizontal surface, in combination with the draw-head having a notch receiving the pointed beak of said latch and the studs projecting into said recess or cavity and the flat link, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the pivoted latch having the cross-pin, of the lifting-leverengaging said pin and having a horizontal joint, together with means for actuating said lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, this 20th day of September, 1890, in the presence of witnesses.

ROSS FORIVARD.

Witnesses:

L. M. ADAMS, R. S. MILLAR. 

